Once again it’s summer and the Sedgwick House Museum is open and operating. Thanks to the Martins Ferry Rotary we have hired Betty Douglas to be our guide during our hours of operation...Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from noon until 4:00 p.m. The number of visitors seems to be up slightly this year, so we are happy about that. Also, our membership in the Martins Ferry Area Historical Society seems to be holding steady. We thank all of you for that support. If you do know of someone who is no longer a member, please encourage them to join again.
     By the time you read this, the window project will probably be completed, thanks to the Belmont County Tourism Council and the Martins Ferry Rotary. We have also been busy this spring and summer with other programs. George Carey, a local artist and Indian expert, was our guest with his collection of tomahawks and other Indian relics. Also, on the Soap Box Derby Day, the society workers sold root beer floats to the people watching the race, making a neat profit. The Martins Ferry Kroger store was helpful, giving us a certificate to purchase the needed ingredients for the floats.
     Coming up in July, the Sedgwick Museum is hosting a small group of Civil War re-enactors. Right now, they are scheduled to encamp on the grounds of the museum on Sunday, July 24. If you are able, come and share with them as they show you the life that a Civil War soldier lived. The Times Leader will carry more information about this event later.      I mentioned in one of my previous letters that we will be part of the annual Rubberneck Tour sponsored each year by the Belmont Tourism Council. Both the Sedgwick Museum and the Walnut Grove Cemetery will be stops on the tour. Other locations in Pease Township will also be featured. The tour will be on Sunday, October 11.... please try to support our organization and the county tourism group.

     It was Sunday, August 5, 1894 when Martins Ferry’s champion baseball club of the Ohio Valley started on its barnstorming tour with the strongest aggregation that could be found in Eastern Ohio.
     Henry Gauding was manager and Dick Padden, who later went to the major league, was captain and star second baseman. Padden’s first major league experience was with Pittsburgh, when he was recalled from the Roanoke team of the Virginia League to fill the post of Louie Bauer, who had broken a leg. Afterward, he went with the Chicago Cubs and captained that team two seasons. From there he went to St. Louis where he was manager and captain for two years.
     All members of the team were Ohio Valley boys, all were glassworkers, and all but four lived in Martins Ferry. Dick Miller and Charlie Prince lived in Wheeling, “Tolley” Kane, Bellaire, and Thad Troy, Clarington.
     Pitchers were Robert McCleary, Gauding and Kane. Infielders were Troy, first base; Padden, second base; Wilson Purcell, shortstop; Prince, third base and catcher. In the outfield were Tim Dobbins, left; Brock Brown, center, with Thomas (Toby) Vickers and Robert (Bub) Walton alternating in right field.
     Scott (Rednip) Coss was camp cook with Carl Myers as assistant. Dade Lewis had charge of the wagons, horses, and equipment. The tour through Eastern Ohio was filled with fun and excitement and at times chaotic.
     The boys had wanted this kind of adventure for some time and finally persuaded their manager to arrange it. The nation was in the throes of an industrial panic at the time and many of the players were unemployed, and money was scarce. Financing the adventure was a serious problem, as nearly all the players were broke.
     Of absolute necessity were two wagons, four horses and camping equipment. To start the fund each player was asked to ‘chip into the kitty’ a sum of ten to twenty dollars. Only two were able to give the larger amount and some were unable to contribute at all.
     Undaunted, Gauding decided to place the matter before two friends, William Lipphardt and F. H. Eick, who loaned fifty dollars. With this money he went to the old Commercial Bank, where Messrs. George H. Smith and James A. Dickson loaned a like amount.
     Then began the search for horses, wagons and camp equipment. All players were requested to bring blankets, comforts and pillows, and Gauding all but stripped his home of cooking utensils. It was now late July, everything in readiness except that a series of try-out games were to be played on the home grounds with a Barnesville team. Ferry won two of the three games.
     It was a light-hearted crowd that filled the wagons when the small caravan moved out of town, knowing not where they were going, nor when they would return. So two loaded wagons with banners on each side emblazoned with the words “Martins Ferry Baseball Club-Champions of the Ohio Valley” took to the road. As they reached the open country the air was filled with the popular songs of the day.
     They were even at this early stage starting out on their nerve. The financial problem was again acute, as nearly all their funds had been used in outfitting the expedition. This, as the boys expressed it, was the manager’s worry.
     The champs made a wonderful record on their six-week tour, playing 35 games, losing but three. The first scheduled game was at St. Clairsville, and the roads not being what they are today, it was a long and arduous trip by wagon.
     The county seat aggregation had offered a small guarantee of $15, but with the game ended the St. Clairsville manager could not be found. Here was a hungry bunch of ball players with practically no funds, almost stranded after their first engagement.
     That guarantee, however small, was needed to replenish the camp larder, and it was the task of the Ferry manager to locate the pay-off man. Finally at 10 o’clock that night Gauding returned to camp richer and almost starved. His meal at that hour consisted of sandwiches and coffee.
     His teammates, however, had fared better. The late Judge John S. Cochran and other friends, former Ferrians, provided a substantial meal. When Gauding caught up with the pay-off man he learned receipts of the game were insufficient to meet the guarantee, and the gentleman had been trying to raise the balance. Again Cochran and his friends came forward with contributions and the amount was fully paid.
     After winning two of a three-game series at Barnesville, the next stop was at Fairview, where they captured two games. The wagons then rolled on to Freeport where no guarantee was offered. Gauding and Padden canvassed the town, finally interesting a group of fans who contributed $25, the winner take all.
     In making up their team Freeport wired for Cy Swaim, who later pitched for Washington in the American league, and secured players from other communities. Never were there so many base hits. Ferry batted like fiends and swamped the enemy by an ignominious score of 30 to 1. That night there was a big celebration in camp.
     The team by this time had gained quite a reputation, booking of games became mush easier and the manager had visions of at least drawing enough money to repay the loans made to start the venture. Fans in all sections demanded the club be booked.
     At New Philadelphia the champs won the first, lost the second and took the third. They took three games at Newcomerstown, two at Beech City and one at Wilmot where they played in the rain. Their string of victories was celebrated at camp quarters with watermelon and soft drinks for those who did not imbibe in stronger beverages. There were sandwiches galore and the evening was spent with music, singing and speeches.
     Chaos prevailed at Carrollton where they met with some stiff opposition against the best sluggers they had thus far encountered. A “colored” boy named Howard had been imported from Lisbon to pitch against the Ferry club. Thad Troy’s ‘run-in’ with Howard created a big riot and delayed the game nearly a half hour.
     An interesting sidelight was a crowd of nearly 50 fans, peeved at Carrollton, and fans from neighboring towns who refused to enter the grounds but rooted for Ferry from their wagons lined up outside the fence. When the champs defeated their local rivals, they took up a collection, called Brock Brown, Walton, and Toby Vickers from the outfield and gave it to them with a loud cheer. The manager never learned how much was donated at the boys seemed to think it was a personal gift. Nevertheless all the team had ‘muzuma’ and a good time for several days.
     The real test was at Dennison against a paid aggregation of which Al Wagner, brother of the famed Hans Wagner, and “Nibbo” Carey were members. There was also Jack Schrader and Pete Lavelle, of Pittsburgh and others of more than local reputation. Ferry won two of the three-game series.
     About 100 fans from Martins Ferry witnessed these games, many making the trip on freight trains. The large delegation cut a deep hole in the funds of the team as they were guests of the camp during their stay.
     On several occasions the venture looked like a financial failure, but after their return home Gauding was able to repay the loans, putting the team on the right side of the ledger, with money divided among the players. Padden was given his choice of the horses, the other being given to other members.
     Upon their return a great ovation was given them at Fourth and Hanover Sts. The boys had a wonderful trip, a great experience and returned home in better physical condition, and were better ball players because of it.

Henry Gauding

Martins Ferry Baseball Club, 1894

     Betty Zane Frontier Days in Martins Ferry began in 1967 as a way to raise money for the Sedgwick House Museum. The Martins Ferry Area Historical Society, organized in 1966, needing a place to store and display local artifacts and historical items, had purchased the Sedgwick family home from a Sedgwick descendant, Mrs. Grace Mitchell, to use as a museum. A portion of the price was donated by Mrs. Mitchell, but the remainder of the mortgage needed to be raised. What better way than to honor the frontier heroine who rests along with members of her family in Walnut Grove Cemetery?
     More than 70 Martins Ferry organizations initially took part in planning and implementing the first Betty Zane Frontier Days. The souvenir brochure from that year was 44 pages long. The booklet contained along with advertisements from local businesses, bits of Martins Ferry history including a look at early pioneer life, a short story about Betty Zane, and articles on business and industry.
     Taking place on August 4th, 5th, and 6th, activities included a free art exhibit, sale of ethnic foods, a parade, a teenage dance, and an adult dance. There were apple butter making demonstrations and exhibits by the Martins Ferry Area Historical Society. A swim meet was sponsored by the Ohio Valley Swim Club. The Lions Club sponsored a beard growing contest, and the Police Department sold personalized I.D. cards. On Saturday, Treni Heil was named the winner of the “Miss Betty Zane” contest along with two princesses. The naming of “Miss Betty Zane” was followed by a pageant at Fodor Field. A community religious service for all congregations occurred at Veterans Memorial Park on Sunday morning. The celebration wrapped up with a dance at the City Park and music by the Polka Barons.
     The steering committee for that year included Mrs. Calvin Pokas, Chairman; Mrs. Nelson MacAninch, Miss Mary Lou Meyers, Mrs. Carl Mamone, Mrs. Sue Kehrer, Mrs. Kay Rutter, Mrs. Ruth Brandt Maguire, Mayor John Laslo, Ernest Horvath, Lloyd Shrodes, and Morton Wilson.
     The mortgage for the museum was retired in 1977, but Betty Zane Days has continued. Now days it benefits the Martins Ferry Fire Department.
     Through the years, Betty Zane Days have expanded to five days, and many activities have been added or changed to suit the changing times. However, the good food and entertainment have been a constant. This year’s celebration will be from August 2nd through August 6th. Stop by the City Park and take part in what has been a tradition in Martins Ferry for 38 years. And while you are at it, visit the Sedgwick House Museum on Hanover Street. It is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12:00 noon until 4:00 p.m.

The Purple Rider Band marches down Fourth Street during the 1970 Betty Zane Days parade.
The thermometer on the Peoples Bank reads 90 degrees.

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